Royal Secret: I'm A Princess!

"I'VE GIVEN you enough time to prepare," Nero said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you all ready?"

As expected of the de Moonasterion "scumbags"— a word she learned from Neoma— the three pairs of glowing red eyes looked at him coldly while scoffing. It was as if they were telling Neoma that they were offended that he even had to ask.

By "them," Nero meant his older version: the Emperor Nero de Moonasterio from the first timeline.

And then the "ancient royal twins"— a term he also learned from Neoma.

"Of course, we are ready?" Emperor Nero said, scoffing. "Do you think we're incompetent?"

"We're the ones who taught you this technique," Aruna de Moonasterio said. "Don't be arrogant, child."

Arche de Moonasterio smiled and nodded. "You should thank Zeru— your Ice Phoenix is just as competent. If it weren't for his ability, we wouldn't have gained temporary physical bodies."

Yes, that was right.

Emperor Nero, Aruna, and Arche all had physical bodies now.

Only people on the same level as Nero (when it came to power) would notice that those three had vessels made of ice.

To be precise, those vessels were actually ice sculptures.

Nero, using the technique that Aruna and Arche taught him in a short period of time, used his Moonglow to turn the ice sculptures into "human bodies."

His thoughts were interrupted when Zeru materialized and landed on his shoulder. It was possible because the Ice Phoenix was only the size of a small bird. He didn't call his Soul Beast, but it appeared as if it knew it was being praised by ½ of the ancient royal twins.

"Come to think of it, Soul Beasts are supposed to have the memories of their previous masters erased once reborn," Nero said, raising an eyebrow at the ancient royal twins. "Why does it seem like my Ice Phoenix still has memories of you two?"

The ancient royal twins avoided Nero's gaze at the same time.

"Stop making small talk, child," Aruna said. "We have a lot of work to do."

"This isn't a "small" talk, Princess Aruna."

"It is because I said so."

Haaah.

[Now I know where Neoma got her stubbornness from.]

"My twin sister is right," Arche said. His smile and tone were both amicable. But it was obvious he was just being protective of Aruna. "Nero de Moonasterio, we'll take care of the palace in your absence. Well, to be precise, this one will." He put a hand on Emperor Nero's shoulder. "We'll make sure this child won't be caught."

"I won't be caught," Emperor Nero said, scoffing. "Remove your hand from my body, old man."

Arche immediately raised his hand, laughing softly as if he found Emperor Nero amusing despite being rude.

[Well, most de Moonasterios are rude, so it's nothing new.]

Nero then made eye contact with Emperor Nero.

It was quite unnerving, honestly.

After all, Emperor Nero got younger after Nero made an ice sculpture of himself.

The older emperor had to look his age if he wanted him to be his proxy.

In short, Nero and Emperor Nero looked like identical twins now.

"I know how to run an empire better than you do," Emperor Nero said to Nero arrogantly. "You still have an empire to lead once you return."

"You better do a good job in my place," Nero said, scoffing back at the older emperor. "I can only hand the Great Moonasterion Empire to Neoma once it is at its strongest."

***

"NO, YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY. DON'T LEAVE WITH THOSE GHOSTS! TAKE ME WITH YOUUU!!!"

Haaah.

Nero couldn't believe that Melvin was literally on his knees while clinging to his leg.

And, yes, the crybaby was really crying and begging him not to leave him with the "ghosts."

"Melvin, do you want to be an actor?" Nero asked while pinching the bridge of his nose. It was a habit he got from his father. "Is this your new way of telling me you want to resign as the future Imperial Chamberlain?"

"I'm really afraid of ghosts, Your Imperial Majesty!" Melvin cried while hugging Nero's leg tighter. "Even more so when the said ghosts are your ancestors! They're scary!"

Nero sighed while shaking his head.

His knights all had different reactions while watching Melvin's dramatic performance.

Alucard Dionisio was looking at Melvin as if he was embarrassed for the future Imperial Chamberlain.

Lucien Attewell looked like he wanted to shove an explosive in Melvin's mouth to make him shut up.

Sandford Devon was laughing so hard he was even clutching his stomach.

Only Raku looked genuinely worried about Melvin.

[The team is harmonious as usual.]

Since Melvin was acting like a loser unbecoming of his status and position, Nero just turned to his other knights.

"Don't touch Calyx de Luca. If he wants to leave, let him leave," Nero said sternly. "But don't let that bastard take anything and anyone in the palace. If he does, tell the ancient royal twins. Don't fight him— I don't want to foil Neoma's plan. Do you understand?"

Alucard, Lucien, Sanford, and Raku all bowed their heads politely and answered at the same time. "As you command, Your Imperial Majesty."

"Good."

He had already given orders to his knights.

[I have faith in them, and that's the reason why I can leave the palace with peace of mind.]

And the person he trusted most in the palace except his family…

"Stop crying, Melvin Lucchesi," Nero said, clicking his tongue. "I'll give you a two-month vacation once I return."

Melvin immediately stopped crying, and then he stood up and bowed his head towards Nero politely. "Have a safe trip, Your Imperial Majesty."

***

"I'M HERE, Your Imperial Majesty."

Nero acknowledged Dahlia's presence with a nod.

Right now, the two of them were in the room with only a giant round mirror as a decoration.

It was more than a mere decoration, of course.

The mirror had a bluish whirlpool in place of the glass, after all.

[Because this mirror is actually a portal to the Spirit World.]

"Usually, only souls and Spirits are accepted in the Spirit World," Nero said while looking at the portal. "But the two of us will be fine. You have an Elemental Guardian, after all."

Dahlia nodded weakly. "And Your Imperial Majesty has access to the Spirit World as a Roseheart."

"No."

"H-Huh?"

"It's not only because I'm a Roseheart," Nero said, smirking. "I can take over the Spirit World and offer it at Neoma's feet whenever I want."

Dahlia gasped and whispered. "A colonizer through and through…"

***

Please ADD my story to your LIBRARY to be notified when an update is posted. Thank you! :>